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Chemical Datasheet

ETHYLBENZENE

3 - Flammable liquid

Chemical Identifiers

CAS Number UN/NA Number DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • 100-41-4   (ETHYLBENZENE)
  • 1175
  • Flammable Liquid
  • ETB
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
Ethyl benzene
  • ETHYLBENZENE
NFPA 704
Diamond Hazard Value Description
3
2 0
Blue Health 2 Can cause temporary incapacitation or residual injury.
Red Flammability 3 Can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions.
Yellow Instability 0 Normally stable, even under fire conditions.
White Special
(NFPA, 2010)
General Description
A clear colorless liquid with an aromatic odor. Flash point 59°F. Less dense than water (at 7.2 lb / gal) and insoluble in water. Hence floats on water. Vapors heavier than air. Used as a solvent and to make other chemicals.

Hazards

Reactivity Alerts
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Insoluble in water.
Fire Hazard
Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Irritating vapors are generated when heated.

Behavior in Fire: Vapor is heavier than air and may travel considerable distance to the source of ignition and flash back. (USCG, 1999)
Health Hazard
Inhalation may cause irritation of nose, dizziness, depression. Moderate irritation of eye with corneal injury possible. Irritates skin and may cause blisters. (USCG, 1999)
Reactivity Profile
ETHYLBENZENE can react vigorously with strong oxidizing materials (NTP, 1992).
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents

No information available.

Response Recommendations

Isolation and Evacuation
Excerpt from 130 Polymerizable warning [Flammable Liquids (Water-Immiscible / Noxious)]:

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area for at least 50 meters (150 feet) in all directions.

LARGE SPILL: Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 300 meters (1000 feet).

FIRE: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2020)
Firefighting
Excerpt from 130 Polymerizable warning [Flammable Liquids (Water-Immiscible / Noxious)]:

CAUTION: The majority of these products have a very low flash point. Use of water spray when fighting fire may be inefficient.

SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical, CO2, water spray or regular foam.

LARGE FIRE: Water spray, fog or regular foam. Avoid aiming straight or solid streams directly onto the product. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS OR CAR/TRAILER LOADS: Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire. For massive fire, use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible, withdraw from area and let fire burn. (ERG, 2020)
Non-Fire Response
Excerpt from 130 Polymerizable warning [Flammable Liquids (Water-Immiscible / Noxious)]:

ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. All equipment used when handling the product must be grounded. Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas. A vapor-suppressing foam may be used to reduce vapors. Absorb or cover with dry earth, sand or other non-combustible material and transfer to containers. Use clean, non-sparking tools to collect absorbed material.

LARGE SPILL: Dike far ahead of liquid spill for later disposal. Water spray may reduce vapor, but may not prevent ignition in closed spaces. (ERG, 2020)
Protective Clothing
Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Ethyl benzene:

Skin: PREVENT SKIN CONTACT - Wear appropriate personal protective clothing to prevent skin contact.

Eyes: PREVENT EYE CONTACT - Wear appropriate eye protection to prevent eye contact.

Wash skin: WHEN CONTAMINATED - The worker should immediately wash the skin when it becomes contaminated.

Remove: WHEN WET (FLAMMABLE) - Work clothing that becomes wet should be immediately removed due to its flammability hazard (i.e., for liquids with a flash point <100°F).

Change: No recommendation is made specifying the need for the worker to change clothing after the workshift. (NIOSH, 2023)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
Normalized Breakthrough Times (in Minutes)
Chemical CAS Number State QS QC SL C3 TF TP RC TK RF
Ethyl benzene 100-41-4 Liquid imm >480 >480 >480 >480 >480 >480
Phenyl ethane 100-41-4 Liquid imm >480 >480 >480 >480 >480 >480
> indicates greater than.
"imm" indicates immediate; having a normalized breakthrough time of 10 minutes or less.

Special Warning from DuPont: Tychem® and Tyvek® fabrics should not be used around heat, flames, sparks or in potentially flammable or explosive environments. Only...

(DuPont, 2023)

First Aid
EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.

SKIN: IMMEDIATELY flood affected skin with water while removing and isolating all contaminated clothing. Gently wash all affected skin areas thoroughly with soap and water. If symptoms such as redness or irritation develop, IMMEDIATELY call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital for treatment.

INHALATION: IMMEDIATELY leave the contaminated area; take deep breaths of fresh air. If symptoms (such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or burning in the mouth, throat, or chest) develop, call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital. Provide proper respiratory protection to rescuers entering an unknown atmosphere. Whenever possible, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) should be used; if not available, use a level of protection greater than or equal to that advised under Protective Clothing.

INGESTION: DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. If the victim is conscious and not convulsing, give 1 or 2 glasses of water to dilute the chemical and IMMEDIATELY call a hospital or poison control center. Be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital if advised by a physician. If the victim is convulsing or unconscious, do not give anything by mouth, ensure that the victim's airway is open and lay the victim on his/her side with the head lower than the body. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim to a hospital. (NTP, 1992)

Physical Properties

Chemical Formula:
  • C8H10
Flash Point: 59°F (NTP, 1992)
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): 1.2 % (NTP, 1992)
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): 6.8 % (NTP, 1992)
Autoignition Temperature: 860°F (USCG, 1999)
Melting Point: -139°F (NTP, 1992)
Vapor Pressure: 10 mmHg at 85.1°F ; 5 mmHg at 57.0°F; 760 mmHg at 277.2°F (NTP, 1992)
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): 3.66 (NTP, 1992) - Heavier than air; will sink
Specific Gravity: 0.867 at 68°F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water; will float
Boiling Point: 277.2°F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992)
Molecular Weight: 106.16 (NTP, 1992)
Water Solubility: less than 1 mg/mL at 73°F (NTP, 1992)
Ionization Energy/Potential: 8.76 eV (NIOSH, 2023)
IDLH: 800 ppm ; Based on 10% of the lower explosive limit. (NIOSH, 2023)

AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)

Interim AEGLs for Ethyl benzene (100-41-4)
Exposure Period AEGL-1 AEGL-2 AEGL-3
10 minutes 33 ppm 2900 ppm 4700 ppm
30 minutes 33 ppm 1600 ppm 2600 ppm
60 minutes 33 ppm 1100 ppm 1800 ppm
4 hours 33 ppm 660 ppm 1000 ppm
8 hours 33 ppm 580 ppm 910 ppm
(NAC/NRC, 2023)

ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)

No ERPG information available.

PACs (Protective Action Criteria)

Chemical PAC-1 PAC-2 PAC-3
Ethyl benzene (100-41-4) 33 ppm 1100 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. 1800 ppm 1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL. LEL = 8000 ppm
1-flame icon indicates value is 10-49% of LEL.
(DOE, 2018)

Regulatory Information

EPA Consolidated List of Lists

Regulatory Name CAS Number/
313 Category Code
EPCRA 302
EHS TPQ
EPCRA 304
EHS RQ
CERCLA RQ EPCRA 313
TRI
RCRA
Code
CAA 112(r)
RMP TQ
Ethylbenzene 100-41-4 1000 pounds 313

(EPA List of Lists, 2022)

CISA Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)

No regulatory information available.

OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard List

No regulatory information available.

Alternate Chemical Names